Power-operated sediment tester



May 14, 1946. A, M. LANG' 2,400,1541A POWER OPERATED SEDIMENT TESTER Filed July 22, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 Affrny' yMay 14, 1946.

POWER OPERATED SEDIMEN'I TESTER Filed July 22, 1944 2 sheets-sheet'2' (ulm 4 I,rlllllll//ll/llll/l111111111111 H H [Il A :set

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Adam PZ 419' A. M. LANG 2,400,154 1 Patented May 14, 1946 POWER-OP'ERALTED SEDIMENT TESTER Adam M. Lang, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to Langsenkamp Wheeler Brass Works, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation 'of Indiana Application July 22, 1944, Serial No. 546,149

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a power operated sediment tester and has lfor a primary object a provision of means for taking samples of flu-id, such as milk for example, one sample right after another 'in quick order without undue expenditure of energy upon the part of the operator to the end that the mil-k containers may be readily passed along for emptying, all 'without' undue delay.

In. order to grade milk, it has been found necessary to take sediment tests thereof, and these tests are generally made at the incoming unloading dock at va -central point where milk A'cans are taken from a truck and placed upon a dock Yor on conveyors carrying the'individual cans into the proce'ssingplant. In a large plant, a great number of cans are received each morning and must be handled readily. Heretofore sediment tests have been taken by 4hand operated devices requiring considerable time and 'also the expenditure of quite a lbit of energy upon the part of the operator whereby the taking of the samples became vquite tedious and odious.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extremely simple structure 'which will not only be positive and quick acting but will also present the minimum parts for cleaning and handling after the samples have been taken.

A further advantage of the invention resides in the fact that no lfluid, the sample of which is to be taken, iiows into any of the valve structure employed in operating the device. These `and many other objects and advantages 'of the Vinvention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following Vdescription of one particular form `of the invention as illustrated 'in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a Vview in side elevation and portional section of a structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a view'in central vertical section through the upper end of the structure on an enlarged scale on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a view in top plan of the complete assembly embodying the invention; A

Fig. 4, aview in central vertical section through the valve head on an enlarged scale 4with the intake or vacuum valve operated Viewed on the line 2--2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a similar view with the pressure or outlet valve operated;

Fig. 6, a View in iront elevation of the valve head;

Fig. '-7, a view in transverse section on the line I-I in Fig. 6I; and

Fig. 8, a View in side elevation tof a valve plug rotated counter clockwise degrees from the position shown in Figs. v2, 4 and 5.

Like vc-,l'iaraeters of reference indicate like parts throughout the various views in the drawings.

.An elongated tube II), preferably transparent, has a lower'tting which isattached thereto to which is :detachably secured an intake thimble I2. `This `thirnble I2 carries across its upper end a relatively fixed screen I3 on `which .is placed aiiilter disk YI4 under the 'diametrically positioned bar I5. The structure at the lower end of the tube vIl) thus far described .is similar to that as shown and described in Amy U.' S. Letters Patent No. 2,153,894, issued April ll, `1939. .Secured to the upper end of the tube Il) is a .head generally designated by the numeral 16, and from this head extends a handle I .'I .to the end of which are attached the vacuum or inlet pipe I8 and the pressure or discharge pipe I9 of a pump'20 that is integrally mounted on the end of an electric motor 2|. The details of the pump 20 do .not forma part of the invention per se `and are therefore not showin, particularly since the motor and pump unit may be bought commercially.

In the head I5 is a pair of spaced apart vertically aligned bores l22 and 23 within which are slidinglly ntted valve vplugs 24 and 25 respectively. The bores 22 and '23 are intercepted by a transverse bore '2'6 extending entirely across through the head I6 to open from each side thereof. Then below this transverse bore 26 is another transverse bore 21 which leads from the bore 2-2 to the bore 23, being closed to any external side opening'. Centrally of the bore 21 is a vertical bore 28 which extends downwardly to open into a larger screw-threaded bore 29, which in turn opens through the underside of the head I6.

Behind the bore 21 in parallel axial alignment therewith is a by-pass bore 30, Fig. 3, which has no opening externally of the head 'I6 but does have openings from each of 'the bores 22 and 23. Each of the valve plugs 24 and 2'5 is normally urged to an upper position by the respective springs 3.I and 32 which bear against the lower ends of the bores and enter bores within the respective plugs tobear against upper .ends thereof. To limit the upper travel of these two plugs, bushings -33 and 3-4 are respectively screw-threadedly entered into the upper ends of the bores .22 and V23. For convenience in operating, each of the plugs 24 and 25 has respectively attached to its outer upper `end buttons '35 and 3S having pins screw-tln'eadedlyY entered axially into the plugs,

` these buttons being removed to permit insertion of the bushings 33 and 34 into their respective bores.

In order to prevent axial rotation ofl the valve plugs 24 and 25, screws 31 and 38 are screwthreadedly carried by the head I6 to enter from the outside thereof and have pilot ends, Fig. '1. enter vertically disposed slots along the outer sides of the plugs, the fit between being sufliciently loose to permit free vertical traveling of the plugs within their respective bores. The valve plug 24 is provided with a diametrically transverse bore 39 which may register with the bore 26 when that plug is pushed into its down or operating position for intake of fluid into the cylinder I0. The plug is provided with a port 4U spaced below the bore 39 to register with the bore 21 simultaneously with registration of the bores 39 and 26. A port 4I 90 around from the port 40 simultaneously registers with a head intake or vacuum passageway 42. This passageway 42 in turn communicates with a passageway 43 through the handle I1 to discharge into the vacuum pipe line I8. Below the port 4I, and 180 therearound, the plug 24 is provided with a port 44 to register with the opening into the by-pass bore 30 when the valve plug 24 is in its uppermost position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Also in axial alignment and on the opposite side of the plug 24 is a port 45 registering with the head passageway 42 when the plug is in its uppermost position, Figs. 3 and 5,

Furthermore, when the plug 24 is in the uppermost position, the transverse bore 39 is closed off at both ends by being within the bore 22 above the head bore 26 and the port 45 then registers with the bore 26 while the other or opposite side of the plug closes 01T that bore in respect to outward opening from the body.

The plug 25 identical with the plug 24 is provided with an upper transverse bore 46 which, Fig. 5, with the plug in a down position, will register with the bore 26 to provide a continuous passageway across through the plug. Also when the plug 25 is down, a side port 41 in the plug 25 registers with the head bore 21 while another port 48, 90 around registers with the opening into the by-pass bore 30. Then when the plug 25 is in its upper normal position, Fig. 4, its transverse bore 46 is closed 01T; the port 41 registers with the bore 26 with the opposite side of the plug closing the bore to outward discharge; the port 48 is closed off by the wall of the bore 23; and oppositely positioned ports 49 and 50 provided in the plug 25 register with openings respectively from the head intake passageway and the head by-pass bore 30. This head passageway 5| communicates with a passageway 52 through the handle I1 with which the pressure pipe line I9 connects.

With both valve plugs 24 and 25 in their uppermost positions as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the pump operates in a normal closed cycle wherein the pump simply circulates air from the pressure side through the passageway 52, across the valve plug 25, through the by-pass 3U and back through the valve plug 24, passageways 42 and 43 and the vacuum line I8. With a filter disk I 4 placed in position as above described, the operator manipulates the device by holding the handle I1 in his hand and inserting the thimble I2 into the fluid to be sampled, such as Within a milk can, and then pushes down on the intake or vacuum valve button 35 to leave the other button 36 alone. Then, Fig. 4, the by-pass 30 is closed off and air is pulled up through the head bore 28; through the port 40 into the bore of the plug 24; back through the port 4I; head passageway 42; handle passageway 43; and pump intake line I8 to the Pump 20. The pump 20 discharges through the line I9, handle passageway 52; head passageway 5I valve plug port 50; up through the plug through the port 41; across through the bore 26; valve plug bore 39; and into the atmosphere from the outlet of the bore 26.

The button is held down and the air is exhausted from the cylinder I0 in the manner just stated until the desired quantity of uid is pulled into the cylinder I0. While this might be done by allowing the fluid to rise within the tube to a predetermined mark, the level of the fluid is automatically controlled by a float device.

This float device consists of a float 55 guided by a lower extending pin 56 in a transverse bracket 51 carried at the lower end of an inserted cylinder 5B, the upper end of which is engaged in any suitable manner herein shown as screw-threadedly on a disk 59. This disk 59 is held against the underside 0f the head I6 within the cylinder' Ii) by means of a valve holder 60 which has a screw-threaded end engaging within the bore 29 of the head I6. This valve member 60 has a central bore therethrough and carries on its lower end a cylinder 6I within which is positioned loosely a metal ball 62. A guide 63 in the lower end of the cylinder 6I receives a pin 64 extending upwardly from the float 55 and is of that length whereby the float Will lift the ball 62 and seat it against the lower end of the bore through the valve member 50 when the float 55 has been lifted by the rising fluid in the cylinder I0 to the predetermined level. By closing off the bore in the valve member 50 the vacuum line to the pump 20 is thereby intercepted or closed off. Also by closing olf the bore at the lower end of the valve member 60, none of the fluid may enter into the passageways and valve structures of the head I6.

To obtain the sediment from the sample of fluid drawn into the cylinder I0, the fluid is expelled from the cylinderl through the filter disk I4, this disk I4 having been lifted to permit the fluid to flow upwardly and therearound as the fluid enters the lower end of the cylinder I0.

When the fluid has reached the predetermined level in the cylinder I0, which can readily be determined by the operator by the pulsation or jerk as the ball 62 seats itself, the valve button 35 is released and the valve button 36 is pushed down whereby the valve plugs assume those positions shown in Fig. 5. Then the by-pass 30 is closed off by the valve plug 25 and air from the pressure side of the pump 2D travels through the line I9; handle passageway 52; head passageway 5I port 48 of the plug; through the plug 275 out the port 41; passageway 21; and discharges through the vertical bore 28 down through the valve member 60 to blow the fluid on out of the cylinder I0.

To provide an intake for the pump 26 to permit this pressure flow, air venters the bore 26, Fig. 5, travels through the valve plug bore 46, across the bore 26 and enters the port 40; and then down through the plug 24 to discharge through the port 45 g through the head passageway 42; handle passageway 43; and pump intake line I8.

When all of the fluid has been expelled the button 35 is released and the pump 20 is allowedy to run if desired While the filter disk I4 is being removed by detaching the lower thimble I2,then a new filter disk inserted for the'next test. With both buttons 35 .dhd36 in their uppermost positions as indicated in Figs. '2 and 3, the'passageway 2l is closed off by the valveiplugs 24 and '25 and the .air simply circulates from one side of the pump to the other asabove indicated through the opposite ports in each of the valve plugs providing communications with the by-pass bore 30.-

In the present showing of .the invention, `the Vbore 21 and the by-pass 30 are formed by boring into the side of the head I/ and then plugging up the outer ends with screw plugs 6"5 and 66.

The cylinder I is preferably vdetacliably connected with the head itin `any .suitable manner whereby kthe cylinder maybe removed for cleaning purposes when desired Aand likewise the cylinder '58 may be detached to permit cleaning of the float 55 and its surrounding cylinder.

It is, therefore, to be seen that I have provided an exceedingly simple mechanism for controlling in and out flows 0f fluids into the sampling cylinder simply by the manipulation of control euttons and that the control mechanism is not ksubjected to the iiuids being sampled,

While the invention has been herein shown in the one particular form as described, it is obvious that structural changes may be embodied particularly in the boring of the head andthe shape of the valve plugs, al1 without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I, therefore,

do not desire to'be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a fluid sediment sampling device, the combination ci a fluid receiving receptacle having a lower end intake opening; a head to which the receptacle is attached; an air pump having intake and outlet conduits connecting with said head; said head having passageways therethrough normally closed to said receptacle and in communication with said conduits whereby said pump may operate to circulate air in a closed system; intake valve means in said head intercepting said passageways; said head having a passageway leading from said receptacle to said valve means; and all of saidv .passageways being arranged in said head to direct discharge from said pump through and externally of said head and receptacle and to provide a pump intake flow from said receptacle when said valve means is shifted from said closed system condition.

2. In a fluid sediment sampling device, the combination of a fluid receiving receptacle having a lower end intake opening; a head to which the receptacle is attached; an air pump having intake and outlet conduits connecting with said head; said head having passageways therethrough normally closed to said receptacle and in communication with said conduits whereby said pump may operate to circulate air in a 4closed system; intake valve means in said head intercepting said passageways; said head having a passagevvay leading from said receptacle to said valve means; and all of said passageways being arranged in said head to direct discharge from said pump through and externally of Said head and receptacle and to provide a pump intake flow from said receptacle when said valve means is shifted from said closed system condition; and pressure valve means in said head intercepting said passageways to direct flow from said pump into said receptacle upon said intake valve means being in its normal position for said closed system and said pressure valve is shifted from the closed system condition.

3. In "a fluid sediment sampling device, the combination of a fluid `receiving receptacle having a lower end intake opening; a head to which the receptacle is attached; an air pump having intake and outlet conduits connecting with said head; said head having passageways therethrough normally closed to said receptacle and in communication with said conduits whereby said pump `may operate to circulate air in a closed system; intake valve means in said head intercepting said passageways; said head having a'passageway leading from said receptacle to said valve means; and all of said passageways being arranged in said head to direct discharge vfrom said pump through and externally of said head and receptacle and `to provide a pump intakeflow from said receptacle when said valve means 'is shifted from rsaid closed system condition; and means automatically closing off said receptacle passageway upon fluid reaching a predetermined height in said receptacle as induced by flow in said system upon shifting of said intake valve means. i

4. 'For checking sediment in fluids, a fluid sampling receptacle having means at its lower end for entrance therein of the fluid and filter means through which the huid is discharged; a head attached to the receptacle and having normally a passageway thereacross; an air pump having intake and discharge connections in spaced apart relation with' said passageway, whereby said pump may operate in a closed system through the passageway; a second passageway across said head having communication with said receptacle; intake and pressure control valves intercepting both of said passageways respectively between said intake and discharge connections of the one and on each side of said receptacle communication of the other; said rst passageway opening to the atmosphere beyond said valves; and each of said valves carrying passageways thereacross to register in different valve positions with said passageways, to provide an open passageway from said pump intake connection through the head to said receptacle and simultaneously a passageway from said pump discharge connection to the atmosphere.

5. For checking sediment in fluids, a uid sampling receptacle having means at its lower end for entrance therein of the iiuid and filter means through which the iiuid is discharged; a head attached to the receptacle and having normally a passageway thereacross; an air pump having intake and discharge connections in spaced lapart relation with said passageway, whereby said pump may operate in a closed system through the passageway; a second passageway across said head having communication with said receptacle; intake and pressure control valves intercepting both of said passageways respectively between said intake and discharge connections of the one and on each side of said receptacle communication of the other; said iirst passageway opening to the atmosphere beyond said valves; and each of said valves carrying passageways thereacross to register in different valve positions withsaid passageways, to provide an open passageway from said pump intake connection through the head to said receptacle and simultaneously a passageway from said pump discharge connection to the atmosphere; spring means normally positioning both of said valves to maintain said closed system closed off from both the atmosphere at the ends of said rst passageway and closed off from said receptacle.

6. For checking sediment in iluds, a uid sampling receptacle having means at its lower end for entrance therein of the iiuid and lter means through which the fluid is discharged; a head attached to the receptacle and having normally a passageway thereacross; an air pump having intake and discharge connections in spaced apart relation with said passageway, whereby said pump may operate in a closed system through the passageway; a second passageway across said head having communication with said receptacle; in'- take and pressure control valves intercepting both of said passageways respectively between said intake and discharge connections of the one and on each side of said receptacle communication of the other; said first passageway opening to the atmosphere beyond said valves; and each of said valves carrying passageways thereacross to register in different valve positions with said passageways, to provide an open passageway from said pump intake connection through the head to said receptacle and simultaneously a passageway from said pump discharge connection to the atmosphere; spring means normally positioning both of said valves to maintain said closed system closed off from both the atmosphere at the ends of said first passageway and closed 01T from said receptacle; said pressure valve in its normal spring positioned position having its own passageways intercommunicating with said rst head passageway and said pump discharge connection; and said intake valve having its passageways providing an opening from said rst head passageway to the atmosphere and from said second head passageway to said pump intake connection.

7. In a uid sediment sampling device, the combination of a fluid receiving receptacle having a lower end intake opening; a head to which the receptacle is attached; an air pump having intake and outlet conduits connecting with said head; said head having passageways therethrough normally closed to said receptacle and in communication with said conduits whereby said pump may operate to circulate air in a closed system; intake valve means in said head intercepting said passageWays; said head having a passageway leading from said receptacle to said valve means; and all of said passageways being arranged in said head to direct discharge from said pump through and externally 4of said head and receptacle and to provide a pump intake ow from said receptacle when said valve means is shifted from said closed system condition; and means automatically closing off said receptacle passageway upon fluid reaching a predetermined height in said receptacle as induced by flow in said system upon shifting of said intake valve means; said automatic means comprising a receptacle float operated valve in said receptacle passageway.

ADAM M. LANG. 

